SPRINGFIELD- Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni kicked off his first re-election campaign Thursday night with a celebration at The Cedars Banquet Facility.

Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi greeted the crowd, and talked of the positive changes he feels Gulluni has delivered since winning a hard fought race as a political newcomer in 2014.

"We both believe very strongly in the fact that we are better and more effective in stopping and preventing crime when we work together," Cocchi said to the hundreds in attendance.

Gulluni on Tuesday submitted at least 1,600 signatures to secure a spot on the ballot.

Among the achievements he touted, Gulluni mentioned his work relating to the opioid epidemic, and the push to prosecute dealers beyond the existing drug laws.

"We've also worked hard to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who are profiting from addiction," Gulluni said. "This includes involvement in breaking down significant drug trafficking rings, and bringing manslaughter charges on dealers whose drugs have provably caused a death by overdose. Moving forward, we will continue our fight against this epidemic along with Sheriff Cocchi and his team, and all our other partners."

In 2014, Gulluni defeated four Democrats vying for the seat vacated by now-U.S. District Judge Mark Mastroianni. His bid for a second term looks decidedly less stressful than his first with no apparent competition as filing deadlines approach. As of today, there is no declared challenger as former Springfield Parking Authority director Mary McNally said she has opted not to run for the seat.

During Gulluni's tenure, the Hampden District Attorney's Office has prioritized the prosecution of violent offenders and drug traffickers through collaborative efforts with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Alongside these efforts, Gulluni has also ushered in a unique connection with the communities that the office serves, largely through strong outreach, and robust education and prevention programming.